QUANTUM MECHANICS IPHYS 811

Spring 2014 Instructor:       Uwe Thumm              Office: Cardwell Hall, room 212Class:            Tuesdays, Thursdays 2:30-3:45, Cardwell Hall, room 146Office hours:     by appointmente-mail, Web page: thumm@phys.ksu.edu, www.phys.ksu.edu/personal/thumm Prerequisites:  Working knowledge of

         Classical Mechanics (e.g., PHYS 522)         Classical Electrodynamics (e.g., PHYS 532)         Mathematical Methods of Physics (e.g., PHYS 801)         Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (e.g., PHYS 662) 

Text book: "Quantum Mechanics”, E. Merzbacher, 3rd ed.,Wiley & Sons (1998) OR (your choice) "Modern Quantum Mechanics”, J.J. Sakurai and J. Napolitano, 2nd ed., Pearson (2010).

 Supplementary books (not required): 

           Undergraduate level:         Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, D. J. Griffiths         Quantum Physics: Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and

Particles, R. Eisberg andR. Resnick

                     Graduate level:         Quantum Mechanics, C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, and F. Laloe         Principles of Quantum Mechanics, R. Shanker         Quantum Mechanics: Nonrelativistic Theory, L. D. Landau and E.

M. Lifshitz         Feynman Lectures in Physics – Vol. III, R. Feynman         Quantum Mechanics: Fundamentals, K. Gottfried and T.-M. Yan         Foundations of Quantum Mech.: From Photons to Quantum Computers,

R. Blümel                     Mathematical and computational:

         Mathematical Methods for Physicists, G. B. Arfken and H. J. Weber

         Tables of Integrals, Series, and Products, L. S. Gradsheyn and I. M. Ryzhik

         Handbook of Mathematical Functions, A. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun

         Angular Momentum: Understanding Spatial Aspects in Chemistry and Physics, R. N. Zare

         Numerical Recipes: The Art of Scientific Computing, W. H. Press et al.

         A first course in computational physics, 2. Ed., P. L. DeVries and J. E. Hasbun

                      More advanced and specialized:

         Physics of Atoms and Molecules, B. H. Bransden and C. J. Joachain         The Theory of Atomic Structure and Spectra, R. D. Cowan         Theoretical Atomic Physics, H. Friedrich         Solid State Physics, N. W. Ashcroft and N. D. Mermin         Introductory Quantum Optics, C. C. Gerry and P. Knight         Quantum Optics, D. F. Walls and G. J. Milburn         Elements of Advanced Quantum Theory, J. M. Ziman         Advanced Quantum Mechanics: The classical-quantum connection, R. Blümel 

 Homework: You are encouraged to discuss strategies for solving homework assignments in small groups. However, I require that you write and return to me at the assigned due dates your own detailed solutions. You will receive no credit for solutions that you have copied. In order to obtain full credit, I also request that you present correct answers in a professional, well organized, and readable manner. In addition to the “for credit” homework assignments, I will frequently ask you to complete simple calculations that we don’t have time for in class. It is important that you carefully “fill in” these gaps when reviewing your lecture notes. This is done most efficiently before the subsequent lecture.                                        

Credit:    Points   Grades:       Points  Exam 1 200   A more than 849  Exam 2 200   B 700-849  Final Exam

300   C 550-699  

Homework 300   D 450-549  Total 1000   F less than 450  

                                            University policy requires that the following statements on this syllabus: Disabilities: If you have any condition such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it or which will require academic accommodations, please notify me and contact the Disabled Students Office (Holton 202), in the first two weeks of the course. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on the exam, paper or project; failure in the course; and/or expulsion from the University.  For more information refer to the "Academic Dishonesty" policy in K-State Undergraduate Catalog and the Undergraduate Honor System Policy on the Provost's web page at www.ksu.edu/honor. 

Copyright: Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid from taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.

Uwe  Thumm                                                                                                                                                          Spring 2014                                                             Quantum Mechanics 1     – Topics covered in class  1.       Introduction     a.  Experiments that reveal the particle character of light (Photo-, Compton-effect, black-body radiation)b.  Experiments that reveal the non-classical character of (quasi) particles (Franck-Hertz, H spectrum, Josephson

effect).

     c.  Diffraction of particle beams (single-, double-slit, coherence).2.  Schrödinger Equation for Free Particles     a.  Wave function (time independent) and Fourier transforms.

     b.  Time-dependent wave functions, (Gaussian) wave packets.3.  Schrödinger Equation for a Particle in a Conservative Force Field     a.  Consistency with 2a) for V(x, t) = const.     b.  Relation to classical mechanics and geometrical optics (Maxwell, Hamilton-Jakobi, eikonal equations).     c.  Continuity equation.

     d.  Schrödinger equation in momentum space.4.  Linear Operators and Expectation Values     a.  Definitions (linear, Hermiteian operatiors, scalar product, algebra, Hilbert space, square integrability).     b.  Momentum operator in coordinate representation.     c. Classical and quantum observables, their (not unique) correspondence and time evolution. Ehrenfest

theorem, uncertainty relation. Virial theorem. Time inversion     d.  Stationary states. Degeneracy.     e.  Expansions in terms of stationary states. Analytic functions of operators. Completeness.     f.   Normalization of continuum wave functions.     g.  Unitary operators (examples: displacement, time-evolution,...)     h.  Charged particles in electro-magnetic fields.     i    (active and passive) Galilei transformations. 5.  Linear Harmonic Oscillator     a.  Stationary states and energies.

     b.  Time-dependent solutions. Expectation values and comparison with classical solution (in phase space).6.  Simple Model Potentials (1 D)     a.  Quantum phenomena at step potentials (transmission, reflection, penetration).     b.  Quantitative solutions (step, well, barrier).

     c.  Scattering:  M and S matrices in relation to incident, transmitted, reflected flux. Resonances.7.  Spherically Symmetric Potentials     a.  Orbital angular momentum operator. Commutation relations. Relation to rotations. Ladder operators.

                     b.  Eigenvalues and vectors of   and Lz. Properties of  (associated) Legendre polynomials and  spherical harmonics.

     c.  Radial Schrödinger equation for a free particle. (Spherical) Bessel and Neumann functions.d.  Examples: Coulomb potential. Hydrogen: spectrum and eigenfunctions. Expectation values. Properties of

Laguerre polynomials. Momentum-space representation.   8.  Perturbation Theory with Applications     a.  Time-independent (degenerate) perturbation theory.     b.  Valence spectra of alkali atoms.     c.  He atom.     d.  Stark effect (linear and quadratic) and polarizability for H. Metastable quenching in weak el. field.

     e.  Time-dependent perturbation theory. Transition rates. Continuum transitions. Fermi’s golden rule.f.   Absorption and induced emission of electro -magnetic radiation. Detailed balancing. Application to

hydrogen atoms: Dipole selection rules. Cross sections.

     g.  Photoelectric effect.9.  Scattering at a Central Potential     a.  Scattering amplitude and (angle-differential) cross section. Classical versus quantum interpretation.     b.  Green’s functions (inclusion of boundary conditions, contour integration technique).     c.  Born series. First Born approximation cross section for Yukawa and Coulomb potentials.     d.  Partial wave expansion of scattering wavefunction, amplitude, and cross section.           e.  Scattering phase shifts and resonances. Example: scattering off radial square-well potential.                                                                                                  (over)Uwe Thumm                                                                                                                                                           Fall  2014                                                             Quantum Mechanics 2 – Topics covered in class 1.           Formal Foundation of QMa.   Hilbert space. Definition, examples. Dirac (bra-ket) notation.b.  Linear operators and their representation. Normal, Hermiteian, unitary, adjoint operators.c.    Operators with continuous spectra. Completeness, closure relation. Functions of operators. Fourier

transformation.d.  Solving eigenvalue problems by i) matrix diagonalization and ii) variation. Example: He atom.e.  Observables and measurement. Single & simultaneous measurements, complete sets of commuting

observables. 2.           Application of Algebraic Operator Techniquesa.   Harmonic oscillator. Quantization of classical fields. Quasi particles.b.   Coherent and squeezed states.c.    Angular momentum algebra. 3.       Quantum Dynamicsa.   Time-evolution operator.b.   Schrödinger,- Heisenberg-, and Interaction Picturec.    Correspondence principle, quantization.d.   Canonical quantization.e.    Forced harmonic oscillator: advanced & retarded Green’s functions, time ordering, relation to scattering

theory.f.    Coordinate representation of the time-evolution operator. Examples: free particle, harmonic oscillator.g.    Path integrals. Classical limit. Semi-classical approximations.h.   Statistical mixtures of quantum states. Density operator. Shannon and von Neumann entropy. 4.             Spina.   Experimental evidence. Stern-Gerlach, Einstein-de Haas experiments. Zeeman effect.b.   Mathematical description: Two component spinors. Remarks on Dirac equation.c.    Spin rotations: Pauli matrices.d.   Spin dynamics. Spin-orbit coupling. Paramagnetic resonances. Remarks on NMR.e.    Spin-dependent scattering: angle-differential cross section, spin-polarization of scattered particles.f.    Information content in spin ensembles: von. Neumann and outcome entropy.g.    Measurement and reduction of quantum states. Multiple Stern-Gerlach experiments. 5.      Addition of Angular Momentaa.   Two spin-1/2 particles: product and total spin basis; hyperfine interaction in H (21cm line).b.   Addition of two arbitrary angular momenta: Clebsch-Gordon coefficients, spectroscopic notation.c.    (Irreducible) representations of rotations and tensor operators. Wigner-Eckart theorem.d.   Applications of Wigner-Eckart theorem: normal & anomalous Zeeman effect, Paschen-Back effect.e.    Other symmetry operations: parity, time reversal, translation, iso-spin (example: nuclear spectra).

 6.  Many-Particle Systemsa.   Identical particles, Fock space, symmetrization postulate, bosons, fermions, spin-statistics theorem.b.   System of N independent indistinguishable particles (bosons or fermions).c.    System of N interacting indistinguishable particles (bosons or fermions), “second quantization”.d.   Direct and exchange interactions. Examples: He atom, scattering.e.    Hartree-Fock method, Brillouin and Koopman theorem.f.    Molecules (mainly H2

(+)). 7.             Relativistic Quantum Mechanicsa.   Klein-Gordon equation for spinless particles.b.   Dirac equation for spin-½ particles.c.    Electromagnetic interactions of Dirac particles. Pauli equation for small <v>/c. Gyromagnetic factors.d.   Approximate solution of Dirac equation for H atom.e.    Outline of exact solution of Dirac equation for H atom and QED corrections.